Mobile devices have reached a form factor that I feel will continue to persist for quite a while. While there exists a large differentiation in size between a mobile computing device like a tablet and a communication device like a smartphone, eventually these two things will converge and bring about a new era of "do-it-all" tools.
Devices on the market now like the LG Optimus 2X, the HTC Thunderbolt, and a variety of others are already running dual-core processors and chipsets with HD graphical capabilities akin to Playstations that only a few years ago were only available in computers. Couple that with true 4G speeds ('true' meaning actual 4G technology like LTE or WiMax) like you find with Verizon, which MSNBC clocked at about 33 Mbps (by comparison what I get out of my wall is 2 Mbps) , and we are only a few generations away from laptop performance in our hands.
Devices on the market now like the LG Optimus 2X, the HTC Thunderbolt, and a variety of others are already running dual-core processors and chipsets with HD graphical capabilities akin to Playstations that only a few years ago were only available in computers. Couple that with true 4G speeds ('true' meaning actual 4G technology like LTE or WiMax) like you find with Verizon, which MSNBC clocked at about 33 Mbps (by comparison what I get out of my wall is 2 Mbps) , and we are only a few generations away from laptop performance in our hands.
Not only will we see an assimilation in size and form factor, but also capabilities and features that will continue to evolve and shape our relationship to our personal devices; and do away with plastic magnetic cards as we know them.
The personal device of the future will do just about everything. It will house your identification, personal, and medical information, all of your social networks and contacts, your payment methods, your library, etc. The steps are already being taken within the next few generations of mobile devices to integrate your credit card into your phone using a somewhat new technology called NFC, or near-field communication.
NFC uses tiny (within a few mm) magnetic fields generated from a chip in your device. When the field is disrupted by another NFC chip, usually by pressing them together or within very close proximity, data is exchanged and the transaction goes on. Bank of America was the first to begin trial testing of the new services, using Blackberry devices. However, Google who's own Nexus S device already carries the technology has begun partnerships with Citigroup and Mastercard to begin trial roll outs as well.
A recent survey done by Mobio Identity Systems showed widespread interest from the consumer market regarding NFC payments, but the main barrier up to this point has been security-related. How can one protect the information if all it takes to exchange information is a quick bump together?
There are a couple of solutions. The most prominent is implementing a PIN type number required for a transaction to take place. However, there is disagreement regarding it's implementation. Some think that the PIN should be entered on the device after tapping it against the POS (point-of-sale) terminal. The concern here is that the PIN is then vulnerable to viruses, that can track keypad or touchscreen entries, and use them to decipher a PIN. The alternative is similar to what we do now with a PIN, where the card is swiped, information is exchanged and the PIN is then entered on the POS terminal to authorize the transaction. The latter does not make for a seamless user experience as the former, however I think that people would trade more security over a little convenience.
Whatever the future of our mobile devices, it is obvious there are several hurdles to coming up with new standards for everyday behaviors.
NFC uses tiny (within a few mm) magnetic fields generated from a chip in your device. When the field is disrupted by another NFC chip, usually by pressing them together or within very close proximity, data is exchanged and the transaction goes on. Bank of America was the first to begin trial testing of the new services, using Blackberry devices. However, Google who's own Nexus S device already carries the technology has begun partnerships with Citigroup and Mastercard to begin trial roll outs as well.
A recent survey done by Mobio Identity Systems showed widespread interest from the consumer market regarding NFC payments, but the main barrier up to this point has been security-related. How can one protect the information if all it takes to exchange information is a quick bump together?
There are a couple of solutions. The most prominent is implementing a PIN type number required for a transaction to take place. However, there is disagreement regarding it's implementation. Some think that the PIN should be entered on the device after tapping it against the POS (point-of-sale) terminal. The concern here is that the PIN is then vulnerable to viruses, that can track keypad or touchscreen entries, and use them to decipher a PIN. The alternative is similar to what we do now with a PIN, where the card is swiped, information is exchanged and the PIN is then entered on the POS terminal to authorize the transaction. The latter does not make for a seamless user experience as the former, however I think that people would trade more security over a little convenience.
Whatever the future of our mobile devices, it is obvious there are several hurdles to coming up with new standards for everyday behaviors.
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